Straw and stalk cutter



(ModeL) J. T. FLANAGAN. STRAW AND STALK QUTTER.

No. 261,329. Patented July 18, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. FLANAGAN, OF ST. MARYS, KENTUCKY.

STRAW AND STALK CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,329, dated July 18, 1882.

Application filed April 1, 1882. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES T. FLANAGAN,

of St. Marys, in the county of Marion and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Straw and Stalk Gutter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in straw-cutters; and it consists in combining with the feed-box, having at its forward edge inclined surfaces and an inverted-U-shaped bracket, with its upper end isolated therefrom and the lower ends of its legs fastened to a cross-piece or other support on the legs of the feed-box, a sash carrying reversed inclined cutters, and a central pointed cutter, a gage, and an operating-lever, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a frontelevationof myimproved straw and stalk cutter, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line 00 .r, Fig. 1.

A represents the inclined sides, and B the flat bottom, of the cutter-box.

0 represents the cutters inclined reversely to the sides, and D is the pointed cutter between cutters O, inclined reversely to them, and working with the flat bottom, while cuttersG work with the sides A.

It will be seen that this arrangement affords increased length of cutting-edges, also more angles, which have better effect than straight lines, and all the edges draw-cut, altogether considerably increasing the cutting capacity.

E represents the stop-plate for determining the length of the pieces cut of thestraw, which I propose to apply to the cutter-gate F, arranging the top edge a little lower than the cutter, so that when the cutter is raised to feed in the straw it will stop the straw, and when the cutters descend it will pass below the bottom of the cutter-box and aiford free escape for the out pieces.

Instead of grooving the posts G to make the ways I for the cutter-gate F, I propose to attach guide-stripsHto the sides of the posts in such manner that when the guides and the gate wear slack I can set up the guides and make them tight again. For this purpose I secure said guides by screws or bolts J.

I have secured to the cross-bar of the frame, at the front of the cutter-box A, the plate L, the top of which is about level with the bottom face of the cutter-box, and between which box and the plateL the knife descends to sever the substance projected past the edge of the box. The plate L serves to sustain the material against the cutting action until severed by the knife, thus preventing the forcing of the material between the knife and feed-box, and causing the knife to work between two strawsustaining edges, whereby the last few pieces in the cutter-box are easily out, as will be readily understood. The plate L, as shown, is of angular form, and the ends of its pendent side pieces are bent twice at right angles to obtain secure fastening to the cutter-box at the required distance therefrom to allow free play of the knife, and the lower bar of the cuttergate F is notched at f to pass the plate.

K represents the handle, by Wllljll the cutter is operated in the usual manner.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In a straw or stalk cutter, the combination, with the feed-box having at its forward edge the inclined surfaces A A and the inverted- U-shaped bracket L, wirhits upper end isolated therefrom, and the lower ends of its legs fastened. to a crosspiece or other support on the legs of the feed-box, of the sash carrying the reversed inclined cutters O G,and the central pointed cutter, D, gage E, and operatinglever H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES T. FLANAGAN.

Witnesses:

J. A. BROWN, A. J. MUDD. 

